Favorite Schools

Favorite Teams

Alabama

Change Region

comments

Delays for downtown Madison improvements could force out Old Black Bear Brewing

Old Black Bear CC.jpg

High demand for Old Black Bear Brewing beers, particularly the Cave City Lager, has owners preparing to expand brewing capacity. It would like to move operations from a shared facility in Gadsden to downtown Madison. (http://www.oldblackbear.com)

So far they have been great to work with. But I don't think there's any city out there that works in hurry. - Todd Seaton, Old Black Bear Brewing

MADISON, Alabama - Downtown Madison is in danger of losing
Old Black Bear Brewing because its owners said they are running out time to
relocate operations to Main Street.

The small brewery wants to be up and running in September because
that's the month owners Todd Seaton and Danny Levis said they will have reached
capacity at their current brewing center, Back Forty Beer Company, in Gadsden. Old Black Bear Brewing shares the equipment
with Back Forty.

Old Black Bear Brewing has new customers awaiting contracts
for more beer, but those must wait till the new brew house is operating, Seaton
added.

The plan for more than a year has been to move into the
vacant building next to Bandito Burrito. In addition to its four types of beer,
Old Black Bear Brewing would brew root beer and lemonade and feature a stage
for live music. There also is a possibility of expanding into the Bandito Burrito
location in the future and replacing the Mexican restaurant with a tap room
restaurant.

View full sizeOld Black Bear Brewing wants to move operations to this empty building next to Bandito Burrito. (Paul Huggins/phuggins@al.com)

The second phase of downtown redevelopment will reroute the
storm water, allowing the pipe to be
removed.

After the pipe's removal, building owner, Larry Anderson,
said he will lower the floor and bring in all new plumbing, electrical and
heating and cooling systems. That will take months, and there's practically no renovation
work that can be done until the new floor is set with the new plumbing, he said.

In mid-May, the city council approved $47,500 for design
work of the $1.5 million second phase of downtown redevelopment. Besides
drainage improvements, work will include upgrading the parking lot on Garner
Street, burying utilities, installing sidewalks/landscaping and replacing
lighting. Most of the work will wait until after the Madison Street Festival in
October.

Old Black Bear owners, who have already bought the new
brewing equipment, are wondering why the city can't go ahead of do the drainage
work this summer. That would allow Anderson to begin renovations for their new
home without waiting another five months.

View full sizeThis concrete drain pipe needs to be removed before renovations can begin and allow Old Black Bear Brewing to move inside. (Paul Huggins/phuggins@al.com)

Seaton said he and Levis bought the equipment with the
understanding that downtown Phase 2 would be completed by now. Though they love
downtown Madison and want to be part of its re-birth, their business expansion
can't wait much longer.

"We're always nervous about the business, especially when
dealing with the city," Seaton said. "I think (city officials) are as equally excited
as us about being down there. So far they have been great to work with. But I
don't think there's any city out there that works in hurry."

District 3 Councilman D.J. Klein said he hopes to work out a
solution for Old Black Bear Brewing because it would be a major attraction for
downtown, as well as provide the three alcohol-selling businesses it needs to
create an entertainment district.

But there are a couple of reasons for delaying construction,
he said: One is not tearing up downtown before it can be repaired in time for
Madison Street Festival. The second is having to wait until July for the state
to announce Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program
grants.

The city recently borrowed $20 million to fund a long list
of capital improvements, mostly road projects. Some of those projects are tied
to ATRIP grants, and the city must hold its money until it knows which, if any,
grants are awarded.

"We don't expect to get all of them funded," Klein said. "So
that frees up some of those bond funds for projects like Phase 2 of downtown."

The city should study the possibility of "fast-tracking" the
drainage improvements, he said, and he plans to meet with the design firm on
June 13 to discuss how to do that.

"Once we come up with a plan and the cost of separating this
from the overall Phase II project, then I can bring the information to council
and get a formal decision, Klein said.

Mayor Troy Trulock also said he would love to see the two-year-old
brewer on Main Street but doubted the drainage work could be completed on a
schedule that meets business's September goal.

"There's some idea floating out there that this (drainage) work
could be done in a week or two, and that's simply not true," he said. "We'd
love to have (Old Black Bear Brewing) in Madison. If not downtown, we'll work
with them to find another suitable location."